OldSchoolLion

Not taking anything away from the victory, but Vero was fortunate they made the finals that year so they could play at home. The Panhandle teams were notoriously difficult to beat at home back then. A number of central/south FL teams tried and came away empty. Imagine an 8-hour road trip to play in a state final.

Could not think of a better title..not the greatest. Here are some teams we don't talk much about nowadays. Thought it would be nice to give them some recognition. Bartow-shocked nationally-ranked Bolles in the 1996 4A final 14-13 Cooper City-shocked nationally-ranked St Thomas Aquinas 21-16 at Piccolo Stadium in 2011 JI Leonard-won their only playoff game in history in 1989, upsetting 1988 state finalist Riverview in Sarasota 15-14 Key West-gave St Thomas Aquinas their worst regular season and playoff losses ever at Piccolo Stadium in 1977 Miami Sunset-won their first and only playoff game in 40 years versus West Broward in 2015, 36-28. Miami Norland-prior to 2002, Norland had won 1 playoff game in the prior 30 years. In 2002, they upset Dillard, Northwestern and Carol City in the playoffs, and then won the 6A state title against Edgewater. Ocala Forest-won back-to-back 3A state titles in dominating fashion in 1974 and 1975, allowing no more than 10 points in any of their playoff games. Have only won 7 playoff games since. Pensacola Washington-prior to 1994, Washington had only won 3 playoff games. In 1994, Washington shocked the world, beating a gauntlet of good teams on the road... Columbia, Mainland, Riverview. They then upset defending state champion Manatee in the semis before winning the 6A title over powerhouse Miami Southridge. They have won only 3 playoff games since. Piper-shocked St Thomas Aquinas 21-0 at Piper in 1996 and won the district title Royal Palm Beach-gave Vero Beach a rare home playoff loss, beating them 28-13 in 2008; one of only two teams to win by 14 or more points in a playoff game at the Citrus Bowl Seminole(Sanford)-shocked Miami Northwestern in 2008 6A final 28-21 Tate-Prior to 1980, Tate could not get past the first round of the playoffs. In 1980, coached by legend Carl Madison, they beat a talented Miami Columbus team for the 4A state title. Rocky Colburn, a running back, went on to play for Bear Bryant at Alabama. Colburn was also an assistant coach for the Tide and for the Atlanta Falcons in the NFL. They have had limited success in the playoffs since. West Nassau-won their first playoff game in 40 years in 2017, beating Marianna 35-7 West Orange-After many years of blowout losses at the hands of Apopka, West Orange finally got the best of them in 2014, and has since won 3 of their past 5 games Wharton-Wharton shocked Mainland 30-3 in the 2002 5A state semifinals. They have only won 2 playoff games since.

For a team to win a 4A title back then was a huge deal. 4A was brutal, and Vero had to come through south FL in the playoffs. I liked the playoff paths better back then...games vs Broward and Dade teams were more likely.

I know and am just teasing, my friend. Sometimes the bear simply cannot resist poking the beehive.

...some of it is just amusing trivia. But some of the history is truly important for future decision-making, ie rationales for past district and region alignments. If we are not careful, we could end up reinventing the wheel and/or repeating sins of the past. For this reason, I think it is important for us geezers to share what we know with the younger folks, since they are the future of the sport. I think it is also important to recognize how Florida has changed so much over the years, ie population centers, and how such changes have impacted hs football. There have been huge changes in the power centers of hs football, and there is no reason to believe this trend will not continue. I'm sure folks in the Panhandle 30-40 years ago would have struggled to believe that they would be trailing the pack one day. Likewise, I could see central FL overtaking south FL in terms of powerhouse teams in 30 years...maybe less. I'm not one to think things were always better in the past. Today we get to see certain regular season games we never would have seen in the stone ages. On the flip side, one has to wonder how we could pack 5000+ fans into a rural stadium 50 years ago and today we have games in urban centers where you can hear the crickets.

...turns out a number of invitations to the state championship sent to teams in south Florida never made it...all wrong addresses....all of them were postmarked from Lake City...tragic, but honest error, I'm sure

Wouldn't that be sweet if there was one source. Unfortunately, have to hunt...lots of old newspaper clippings.

...so disappointing that so many of these teams did not show up for the "state championship" later in the month. I guess teams like Booker T and Carol City wanted no part of Columbia or Sandalwood.

Folks often speak of the benefits of transfers...and there certainly can be....but I do not often hear talk of how disruptive it can be to an "existing" team, especially when a bunch of new, testosterone-filled teens with their bags already packed for college show up for practice. Add on top of that a team with a relatively inexperienced coach, not used to managing a bunch of "all stars," and that can be recipe for failure. If Atlantic got 10-15 good transfers last year, one might have expected them to roll over everyone they faced, and they did not.

as I stated in another post, Dan, I think Central FL is leading the way in the scheduling of interesting, intercounty matchups...thanks

Cocoa High...one of the leaders in aggressive scheduling over the past 10 years 2017 @Trinity Christian, Mainland, @Bartram Trail, Pahokee 2016 Clearwater, Trinity Christian, @Bishop Gorman(NV) 2015 Western Branch(VA), @IMG, @St Edward(OH) 2014 @Trinity(KY), Raines, @Seabreeze 2013 @Gonzaga(MD), @Amer Heritage Delray, @ Hernando, Seabreeze 2012 St Joe's Prep(Disney), Ft Laud. University, @Bergen Catholic(NJ) 2011 @Colerain(OH), @Skyline(TX), Miami Central, @W Monroe(LA) 2010 Olive Branch (MS), @Thomas Jefferson(PA), @Abilene(TX) 2009 AH Delray, @Bolles

...not to mention your prediction of the impending destruction of Lee and Bolles.

Man, Rockledge fans in for a treat...Viera, Bolles, Miami Southridge and Palm Bay all at home. Bet there are not too many teams in the state with two good teams from other areas of the state visiting them.

It is the Key West Conchs! Key West was a regular, non-district opponent of Aquinas from 1975-1980. Back in 1977, the Conchs beat Aquinas 36-0 during the regular season at Brian Piccolo Stadium in Fort Lauderdale. Later in the season, the Conchs returned to Piccolo Stadium and beat Aquinas 28-6 in a Region 8AAA playoff game. Up 7-6 at halftime, Key West scored 3 TD's in the fourth quarter, capitalizing on STA turnovers. STA totaled 4 turnovers and 89 yards in penalties. Aquinas led in total yards, 253-193. Those were Aquinas' only losses in 1977. Interestingly, those 2 victories are the largest margins of victory by a team in regular season and playoff games against STA in the history of Piccolo Stadium. FYI-Key West traveled to Delray Beach Atlantic and lost 28-14 in the second round that year. Talk about some long, back-to-back road trips back in the day!

Didn't want to drive myself crazy thinking of every game LOL I am sure there are some other good ones not on the list above. Main purpose was just to show the trend.

...interesting fact. Only 2 teams in the past 15 years have allowed 21 points against Madison County and won(Deland and Pace). If Columbia gets in a shootout with them, they will likely lose. In the past 6 games, Columbia only held Madison County below 21 once, and still lost 19-0. Everyone knows how to beat Madison County...stop the run...but much easier said than done.

...another interesting fact. ST Thomas Aquinas has only lost 5 playoff games at Brian Piccolo Stadium since it opened in 1975. The last time they lost was in 2003, when Miami Edison beat them 32-14. The other 4 teams to beat STA there in a playoff game were Key West(1977), Glades Central(1980), Dillard(1986), and Lakeland(1988). So, STA has only lost one home playoff game in the past 30 years! The last team to come close was Ely, who lost a 13-12 nailbiter in 2007.

Madison County is another small school that has played some really aggressive schedules over the years. Look at the teams they have traveled to outside their area, bolded below. FYI-during this time frame they are 6-0 against a certain routinely ranked school nearly quadruple their size and have outscored them 194-87 in those games. I am not saying who, though. Darn, somehow I cannot delete this icon below. 2017 @Wakulla, Columbia, @Dunnellon, @Rickards 2016 @Wakulla, Rickards 2015 Wakulla, @Brooks County(GA), Rickards, 2014 Tampa Catholic, Brooks County(GA), Gainesville, @Pace, Deland, N Miami Beach 2013 @Gainesville, @Tampa Catholic, @Deland, Pace, @Baker County 2012 @Edgewater, Gainesville 2011 @Colquitt County(GA), @Gainesville, Pine Forest 2010 Leon, Columbia, Godby, @Lincoln, @Lake Gibson, Osceola 2009 @Leon, @Columbia, @Godby, Lincoln, @Osceola 2007 @Coffee County(GA), @Wakulla, @Godby 2006 Coffee County(GA), Columbia, @Mainland, @Apopka 2005 Valdosta(GA), @Columbia, Mainland, Apopka 2004 @Valdosta, @Columbia, @Lincoln

What is justification for Crestview at #1? Over past 5 years, seems as if they have a limited number of "quality" wins? I heard Wakulla has a dual-threat qb this year who could open up their offense.

They are coming out with a sequel. A young man from Lake City gets involved with a young lady from Gainesville who graduated from St Thomas Aquinas and whose brother goes to IMG. After a steamy weekend, he decides he cannot see her any longer...but she has other plans.

I think Columbia could have one of the tougher schedules in the state without going anywhere near south Florida. A non-district schedule like that below is as good, if not better, as most of the teams listed above. Colquitt County or Lowndes County Wekiva or Dr Phillips or Apopka Raines St Augustine Madison County Trinity Christian

How many of the teams above located south of Gainesville have you played on the road during the regular season since 2008?

No, am not implying that. Am simply offering that University Christian is an option for scheduling. On another note....an advantage you have over teams to the south. You've got Valdosta and Lowndes across the border and Colquitt County not too far away. You have the potential for an OOS game against a nationally ranked team within a 2-hour drive.

I agree it is more difficult for teams in north FL and that going to south FL is a burden. But Tampa/Lakeland/Orlando is 2-2.5 hours, and that opens up lots of options. Has Columbia played a regular season game south of Gainesville in the past 10 years? Even your favorite team Bartram Trail is going to Cocoa this year. When was the last time ya'll played a regular season game against Raines? Ponte Vedra? St Augustine? Clay? Bradford? University Christian? It's not south FL, but one could build a pretty formidable schedule there if so inclined.